Post by Papa C. on Feb 18, 2008 10:46:22 GMT
Dublin wants right to inspect UK nuclear power stations
* Henry McDonald
* The Observer,
* Sunday February 17 2008
* Report errors or inaccuracies: reader@observer.co.uk
* Letters for publication should be sent to: letters@guardian.co.uk
Guardian and Observer switchboard:
+44 (0)20 7278 2332
This article appeared in the Observer on Sunday February 17 2008 on p12 of the News section. It was last updated at 00:06 on February 17 2008.
-Ireland will demand greater access to inspect Britain's nuclear facilities if Gordon Brown goes ahead with building more nuclear power stations, an Irish cabinet minister vowed yesterday.
John Gormley, Ireland's Minister of the Environment, said that while the Republic accepted the sovereign right of the UK to determine its own energy policies, Dublin would be calling for more inspectors to scrutinise new British nuclear power stations.
'Since several court cases taken against the British government, there has been greater co-operation and transparency to nuclear facilities in Britain. We want that arrangement to continue, where our people can go and inspect those stations.
'There will now have to be greater co-operation in relation to this issue. That is where, in terms of north-south and east-west co-operation, we can make progress. We have a different perspective on nuclear power than Britain.'
Ireland has been locked in a longstanding row with the UK over Sella-field and its alleged environmental impact on the Irish eastern seaboard.
Speaking at the Irish Green Party's regional Northern Ireland conference, Gormley also emphasised that the Irish troop contingent serving in Kosovo would remain there despite today's declaration of independence by the Albanian majority. Peace and neutrality organisations, as well as Sinn Féin, have claimed that if Russia uses its veto on the UN Security Council against Kosovan independence, the Irish military presence could be unconstitutional. Under Ireland's so-called 'triple lock', all Irish Defence Forces commitments overseas have to be mandated by the UN Security Council.
'It remains to be seen what [President] Putin does, but what we have to understand is that the Irish troops there are already UN mandated. The Irish government's position is fully in line with our UN obligations. So for the foreseeable future they will stay.'
Gormley also said he would be personally campaigning for a 'yes' vote in the forthcoming Lisbon Treaty referendum, despite more than two thirds of his party voting against it at a special congress last month.
The minister then commented on the recent Sharia law furore in Britain and the fact that some Irish Muslims have argued for the introduction of parts of Sharia in Ireland. 'The laws in Ireland are passed by the Oireachtas [the Irish Parliament and Senate] and if we see fit to pass laws to incorporate minority groups, that would be up to the parliament, which is sovereign.'
Gormley also backed the campaign by the Greens' sole member of the Northern Ireland Assembly for greater transparency in the way political parties are funded. North Down MLA Brian Wilson wants the law changed so that those who donate to parties in the north of Ireland no longer have the right to remain anonymous. Northern Ireland is the only part of the UK were party donors can remain secret.
* Henry McDonald
* The Observer,
* Sunday February 17 2008
* Report errors or inaccuracies: reader@observer.co.uk
* Letters for publication should be sent to: letters@guardian.co.uk
Guardian and Observer switchboard:
+44 (0)20 7278 2332
This article appeared in the Observer on Sunday February 17 2008 on p12 of the News section. It was last updated at 00:06 on February 17 2008.
-Ireland will demand greater access to inspect Britain's nuclear facilities if Gordon Brown goes ahead with building more nuclear power stations, an Irish cabinet minister vowed yesterday.
John Gormley, Ireland's Minister of the Environment, said that while the Republic accepted the sovereign right of the UK to determine its own energy policies, Dublin would be calling for more inspectors to scrutinise new British nuclear power stations.
'Since several court cases taken against the British government, there has been greater co-operation and transparency to nuclear facilities in Britain. We want that arrangement to continue, where our people can go and inspect those stations.
'There will now have to be greater co-operation in relation to this issue. That is where, in terms of north-south and east-west co-operation, we can make progress. We have a different perspective on nuclear power than Britain.'
Ireland has been locked in a longstanding row with the UK over Sella-field and its alleged environmental impact on the Irish eastern seaboard.
Speaking at the Irish Green Party's regional Northern Ireland conference, Gormley also emphasised that the Irish troop contingent serving in Kosovo would remain there despite today's declaration of independence by the Albanian majority. Peace and neutrality organisations, as well as Sinn Féin, have claimed that if Russia uses its veto on the UN Security Council against Kosovan independence, the Irish military presence could be unconstitutional. Under Ireland's so-called 'triple lock', all Irish Defence Forces commitments overseas have to be mandated by the UN Security Council.
'It remains to be seen what [President] Putin does, but what we have to understand is that the Irish troops there are already UN mandated. The Irish government's position is fully in line with our UN obligations. So for the foreseeable future they will stay.'
Gormley also said he would be personally campaigning for a 'yes' vote in the forthcoming Lisbon Treaty referendum, despite more than two thirds of his party voting against it at a special congress last month.
The minister then commented on the recent Sharia law furore in Britain and the fact that some Irish Muslims have argued for the introduction of parts of Sharia in Ireland. 'The laws in Ireland are passed by the Oireachtas [the Irish Parliament and Senate] and if we see fit to pass laws to incorporate minority groups, that would be up to the parliament, which is sovereign.'
Gormley also backed the campaign by the Greens' sole member of the Northern Ireland Assembly for greater transparency in the way political parties are funded. North Down MLA Brian Wilson wants the law changed so that those who donate to parties in the north of Ireland no longer have the right to remain anonymous. Northern Ireland is the only part of the UK were party donors can remain secret.
